2010 Ecampus Graduates

Danielle Harper Erb

B.S. Natural Resources
Corbett, Oregon

What does completing your degree mean to you? How do you feel it will improve your life and career? It has been a personal goal to obtain my Bachelor's degree for a long time now. More and more, I felt that I wasn't competitive in the workforce and that I would never land my dream job without getting the advanced degree. When I finally decided to go back, I found that I didn't get the transfer degree to begin with and I had to start all over again.

That was disappointing because of the time and money required to go another four years to school. I wanted that degree though, so I went for it and am so very proud of myself for doing so. I have worked full time as I have been going to school. This has been a challenge to say the least, but I live alone and things are very expensive so I have had to make the best of my opportunity.

As for humanity and our Mother Earth, my accomplishment means that I am trained and confident that I can put my knowledge to work and make this world a better place for everyone in it.

Why did you choose to complete your degree online through OSU Extended Campus? What did you like about this method of education?  I chose to obtain my degree online because I didn't want to move from where my job, family and home were located. Aside from the obvious, I have a medical condition called soft sound sensitivity syndrome, or 4s and it causes me to be extremely sensitive to certain sounds. The worst sound for me is gum, and it is amazing how many people chew and pop gum in class. Also, the clicking of pens and other noises that happen among a crowd of people who should be sitting silently distract me greatly. When I say greatly, I am not emphasizing it as I should. These sounds are actually debilitating to me and keep me from learning. Online courses allow a person such as myself gain an education without the distractions one faces in the classroom. If it weren't for online courses, I may not have pursued my degree.

Did you have an instructor or advisor who was influential in helping you succeed as a distance student? I did appreciate it when my advisor kept me up to date on my path towards graduation and also when telling me good job on my grades. That's got to make anyone feel good.All of my instructors were excellent and very helpful during the process of the class I was enrolled in.

What will your Ecampus degree allow you to do that you were unable to do before?I will be able to apply for positions I wasn't qualified for before and I now feel confident I can work in the field of my desire with a knowledge base I didn't have before. Who knows, I may continue someday and get my Master's!

Thanks OSU, it has been a great ride!

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